First, there has been a failure to distinguish between theory xy attitudes and theory xy behaviors. Theory x and y created by mcgregor has been a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. The theory x and theory y are the theories of motivation given by douglas mcgregor in 1960s. Xy theory questionnaire score the statements 5 always, 4 mostly, 3 often, 2 occasionally, 1 rarely, 0 never to indicate whether the situation and management style is x or y. Theory x and theory y of motivation theory x and theory y of motivation by mcgregor s. Application of theory x and y in classroom management by. This theory divides workers and managers in the organization in two typical groups according to how managers lead their subordinates and respectively how subordinates behave. Mcgregor argued that these assumptions fall into two broad categories theory x and theory y. There is no evidence to confirm that either set of assumptions is valid.
Douglas mcgregor in his book, the human side of enterprise published in 1960 has examined theories on. One psychologist, douglas mcgregor, categorized peoples motivations into two broad categories. Theory y put forward the idea that management by objectives and involving workers in the decisionmaking process would lead to the creation of a satisfied and more productive workforce. Theory x and theory y are theories of human work motivation and management. A multilevel, multisource analysis article pdf available in journal of managerial issues 2714.
My boss asks me politely to do things, gives me reasons why, and invites my suggestions. Pdf theory x and theory y published in the sage encyclopedia. Theory x and theory y team management training from. Mcgregor named these assumptions as theory x and theory this essay would examine the pros and cons of this theory of employee motivation, followed by writers opinion. X and consider using the techniques suggested by theory y. This entry first describes ising strategies for improved transfer in todays mcgregors theory x and theory y. Theory x managers believe that their employees come to work just to earn a living, and that they dont want to take on new responsibilities. Theory x and theory y also have implications in military command and control c2.
Mcgregor s ideas suggest that there are two fundamental approaches to managing people. Theory x and theory y were developed in the 1960s and describe two different, almost opposite, attitudes to motivation in the workplace. Difference between theory x and theory y with comparison. You might, for instance, have a tendency to micromanage or, conversely, you may prefer to take a more handsoff approach. There are two alternative sets of assumptions which mcgregor has described. First, there has been a failure to distinguish between theory x y attitudes and theory x y behaviors.
Theory x and y were created and developed by douglas mcgregor at the mit sloan school of management in the 1960s 2. It encapsulated a fundamental distinction between management styles. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi theory x an authoritarian style of management the average worker dislikes work. This is the idea behind douglas mcgregor s theory x and theory y.
You may, however, find that you naturally favor one over the other. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the online consultation on strata law reform. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Mcgregor s x y theory is a natural rule for managing people. According to mcgregor, organizations with a theory x approach tend to have several tiers of managers and supervisors to oversee and direct workers. In 1960, douglas mcgregor formulated theory x and theory y suggesting two aspects of human behaviour at work, or in other words, two different views of individuals employees. Mcgregor developed two theories of human behaviour at work. The three prior studies that have made this distinction were recently conducted solely to develop constructvalid measures of both. These theories are based on the premise that management has to assemble all the factors of production, including human beings, to get the work done. According to theory x, managers assume that the average employee is lazy, dislikes work, are incapable of selfdirection and will not indulge in hard work. Pdf douglas mcgregors landmark book, the human side of enterprise, changed the path of management thinking and practice by. According to mcgregor, theory x seeks to promote engagement by directing, monitoring.
Most managers will likely use a mixture of theory x and theory y. Pdf leadership style and organizational performance have been researched. Mcgregors theory x and theory y theory of motivation. Theory x and theory y was an idea devised by douglas mcgregor see article in his 1960 book the human side of enterprise. The theories attempt to show how a managers perception of his team affects the. In actual practice, most managers today practice a combination of theory x and theory y styles of management. Jul 08, 2017 on the other extreme, theory y is diametrically opposite to theory x which shows the modern and dynamic approach to individuals and relies on the assumptions that are practical in nature. He did not imply that workers would be one type or the other. Theory x and theory y, given by mcgregor, are explained below with the main assumptions of each theory. Mcgregors theory x and theory y are theories about human behavior and motivation in the organization that was published in 1960 by douglas mcgregor. Jul 11, 2017 managers generally have one of two perspectives regarding their employees. Assumption of theory x that peoples behavior is strongly influenced by their beliefs. In his 1960 management book, the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor made his mark on the history of organizational management and motivational psychology when he proposed the two theories by which managers perceive employee motivation. Many years ago a professor named mcgregor dubbed these perspectives theory x and theory y.
Pdf application of mcgregors theory x and theory y. Mar 21, 20 theory x and theory y framework proposed by mcgregor in his classic book the human side of enterprise 1960 consists of two alternative set of assumptions. Social psychologist mcgregors theoryx and theoryyof mit expounded two contrasting theories on human motivation and management in the 1960s. In this article, we are going to talk about the major differences between theory x and theory y. It is important to understand the two terms, internal motivation and external motivation is made up of the forces which exist within an individual, i. Either theory x or theory y assumptions may be appropriate in a particular situation. Sep 09, 2016 douglas mcgregor wrote about theory x and theory y in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its. Rather, he saw the two theories as two extremes with a whole spectrum of possible behaviours in between. His work is based upon maslows hierarchy of needs, where he grouped the hiera. Theory x management style generally get poor results compare with managers use theory y, which produces better performance and results, and allows people to grow and develop. Mc gregors theory x and y are still applicable in todays leadership styles. He was a strong supporter of theories x and y, and he put theory y that people want to work, achieve and take responsibility into practice in a californian electronics factory.
We should emphasize that we have labeled these assumptions as a step beyond theory y because of mcgregors own recognition that the theory y assumptions would probably be supplanted by new. Theory x and theory y management applicationbusiness implications for workforce motivation. Theory x the theory leads to mistrust, highly restrictive supervision, a punitive atmosphere, threat and coercion to gain employees compliance theory x managers feel the sole purpose of the employees interest in the job is money they will blame the person, without questioning whether it may be the system. Douglas mcgregor is the one who constructed theory x and y in the 1960s. In 1960, douglas mcgregor developed a leadership theory mcgregor theory x and theory y about organization and management in which he represented two opposing perceptions about people. Motivation, theory x and y, classroom, management manager and organisation introduction douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous theory x and y in his book the human side of enterprise in 1960. Mcgregors theoryx and theoryy what is human resource. Mcgregor promoted theory y as the basis of good management practice, pioneering the argument that workers are not merely cogs in the company machinery, as theory xtype organizations seemed to believe. If theory y holds, an organization can apply these principles of scientific management to improve employee motivation.
After reading you will understand the background and the practical basics of these leadership styles what is theory x and theory y. Aspects of the theory x and theory y of douglas mcgregor. Theory x percieves employees to be lazy, irresponsible and untrustworthy, while according to theory y employees are approached as one of the most valuable assets of the company. Theory into practice abraham maslow viewed mcgregor as a mentor. We had an amazing response and your comments have been included in a report which was presented to the nsw government in may 2012. May, 2016 many theorists support that mcgregors theory considers the field of management from a new angle, indicating a strong influential value. Douglas mcgregor has developed a theory of motivation of the basis of hypotheses relating to human behaviour. Theory x says that the average human being is lazy and self. The relationship between mcgregors xy theory management. Mcgregors theory is also from are one of those theories that comprise much influence on both the management and the employee. Critically evaluate mcgregors theroy x and theory y. Control, achievement and continuous improvement achieved by enabling, empowering and giving responsibility. While you are no longer able to comment on the consultation questions, we invite you to read the submissions which will remain on the site as a. Older, strictly hierarchical conceptions of c2, with narrow centralization of decision rights, highly constrained patterns of interaction, and limited information distribution tend to arise from cultural and organizational assumptions compatible with theory x.
Theory x and theory y are still referred to regularly in the fields of. Read this article to learn about mcgregors theory of x and theory y. Theoryx and theoryy management applicationbusiness implications for workforce motivation. Theory x and theory y were first explained by mcgregor in his book, the human side of enterprise, and they refer to two styles of management authoritarian theory x and participative theory y. Dec 10, 2018 douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 was a famous management professor in the field of personal development and motivational theory. Toward a constructvalid measure article pdf available in journal of managerial issues 202. Theory x and theory y of motivation explain with examples. My rationale is based on the fact that the assumptions of the leader on the part of the employee who is in the category of theory x reflects the total mental make up of an individual. The idea behind using letters x and y, perhaps seems to be using a. Theory x and theory y of management represent two fundamental approaches to employee engagement carson, 2005. Therefore most people must be motivated by forcedbribed with the threat of punishment or a. This article describes the theory x and theory y of douglas mcgregor. In contrast to the principles of conventional management mentioned as theory x, the advocated theory y illuminated a cluster of new or redefined concepts such as selffulfilling prophecy and responsibility.
Dogan unlucan mcgregor theories x and theory y student. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi. Mcgregor developed a philosophical view of humankind with his theory x and theory y in 1960. Mcgregor himself held to the belief that theory y assumptions were more valid than theory x. Features of mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Douglas mcgregor has developed two sets of assumptions about human behaviour. Although nearly 50 years have passed since mcgregor s initial formulation of theory x and theory y, the substantive validity of his theorizing on the effects of individual differences in. He is best known for his development of the theory x and theory y, a leadership theory on two different leadership styles. According to mcgregor, the function of motivating people involves certain assumptions about human nature.
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